Combined switch and protecting device.



No. 718,460. PATENTED JAN. 18, 190 3. H. H. HORNSBY 85 E. W. ANGER, JR.

COMBINED SWITCH AND PROTECTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

E nomus minim. EHOTQLITHQ, WASHINGTON, n c

warren Sterne ATENT ()FFICE.

HARRY H. HORNSBY AND EDWARD XV. ANGER, JR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED SVWTCH AND PROTECTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718A60, dated January 13, 1903.

Application filed November 26, 1901. Serial No. 88,611. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that we, HARRY H. HORNSBY and EDWARD W. ANGER, J12, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Combined Switch and Protecting Device, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to a combined snapswitch and an inclosed or cartridge-protective device for use in systems of distribution for electric light, power, and other purposes.

It has for its object the provision in a single and unitary structure of a device or instrument of the kind described that is simple and compact, durable and efficient, and one that is easy to construct and install and inexpensive to manufacture.

It has been common heretofore to employ separate terminal blocks and fuse-blocks in connection with switches; but they are objectionable not only on account of their increased cost of manufacture and installation, but because of the much greater space they require and for the further reason that their live contacts and terminals are wholly exposed. Thelatterdefectis'commonlyguard ed against by placing these parts in cabinets; but this does not protect when the cabinet is open, and it, moreover, involves an extra expense, besides an increased cost for and complication in the wiring. Our invention seeks to avoid these and other objections by rearranging the several parts of each and by 10- cating the protective device on the switchbase, whereby the same coverincloses all the live contacts and working parts of both the switch and protector, and all parts are arranged for convenience of operation, inspection, wiring, and repair.

As a further feature of our invention we provide a terminal block or terminal extension in connection with the base of the switch, whereby the supply-wires and contact or terminal clips are carried by said block or extension. Suitable permanent connectors are then extended from the said terminals to the switch or protector contacts and a cover is provided for the protector and switch.

This

results in a single device all wired up complete for use, which takes the place of the separate devices of the prior art and with better and more satisfactory results.

The invention further consists in the parts and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and in Which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying our invention, showing the same as it would ordinarily appear when affixed to a wall or vertical support and with the cap, shell, or cover removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same,taken on the line 2 2,Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 5 is sectional view of the same form on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a face view of a snap-switch embodying our improve- Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a denotes an insulatingbase, preferably of porcelain, on which the operative parts of a snap-switch b are adapted to be mounted. This switch may be of any desired snap-action type, but as shown consists of the rotatable insulating member I), connected, by means of a coilspring b with the stem 5 and actuating-button b. On the rotating member are mounted suitable metallic contact members 6 19 which frictionally engage and electrically connect 0 together the stationary contact-plates Z) Z) and the spring contacts or terminals 17 b the former being mounted rigidly upon the porcelain base and extending beneath the rotating member Z), while the latter have rearwardly- 5 extending ends firmly secured to the base by bolts 5 The construction is such that upon turning the button Z7 said rotating member will snap from the position shown when the switch is closed to a position ninety degrees I06 forward when the switch is open. The porcelain is channeled out, as shown, to accommodate these switching parts; but at the sides a ct thereof it is left at full height. \Vithin suitable grooves a 66 111 the face of the raised porcelain parts a ct are placed the inclosed or cartridge-protective devices 0 c, the clips (1 cl at the ends of the grooves being adapted to receive and connect in circuit the said protective devices. Both of these clips are substantially U-shaped, as shown in Fig. 3, and have preferably a slight spring action, so as to firmly grip the ends of the protective devices and make a good electrical contact therewith. The clips dare bent around and secured in place and in electrical contact with the spring-contacts b of the switch by means of the said bolts 19 although any other mode of connecting and securing the clipsin place may be employed. The protective devices consist each of an inclosing case provided with metallic end contacts to electrically connect with the said clips, and while any protective device having these characteristics may be used the particular device shown in the drawings consists of a fuse extending between the end caps of the insulating-tube. By this construction the clip d is directly connected with clip (1 when the fuse or protective device is in place. The upper right-hand clip d connects, by means of a rod, wire, or bar 6, which has its end secured thereto in any desired manner and lies. in a suitable channel a in the back of the base, with a terminal clip or lug f, of desired construction, the same being adapted to fit within a socket or recess a formed at the side of a groove a in the terminal extension at" of the insulating-base a. A similar wire or connector 6' extends between clip d on the left to a similar connection-terminalf in a recess ct at the side of the groove a The supply-wires h and h are adapted to lie in said grooves and from which wires the insulation, if any there be, is scraped or cut away to accommodate the terminalsf and f. The wires that lead away from the switch are denoted by k and k and are taken out through channels in the bottom of the base, as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. The wire 75 connects with the under side or back end of the hinding-post on the lower switch-contact I)", while wire 70 leads in like manner to the upper contact Z). A cover 0 is provided for the switch, which fits over the raised portion of the base. The electric circuit through the device may be traced in Fig. 1 from supply-wire 72., clip f, connector 6, clip 01, through the protecting device 0, clip d, switch-spring b the clip on the rotating member of the switch, the contact-plate b, and through leading-out wire 70. In like manner the circuit through the outer side of the switch maybe traced from supplywire h to leading-out wire 74;. Suitable countersunk holes a a are provided through the base a for supporting screws. In case it be desired to remove the protective devices for any reason they may be taken out or inserted by lifting them directly out of their slots or grooves and engaging clips.

It will be noticed that the porcelain in the raised portions a. a rises slightly higher than the protective devices and the clips at and (1, whereby the parts are effectually insulated. The same arrangement prevails on the terminal extension a the clipsfandf being depressed beneath the surrounding surface of the porcelain. This feature of combining an inclosed protective device with a snap-switch is of the utmost importance in View of its numerous advantages and the beneficial results accomplished thereby and we intend to broadly claim the same. The further feature of adding the terminal extension is also important, and we believe that we are the first to have so constructed a switch.

In the form of our invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 substantially the same arrangement of the snap-switch on the insulating-base, as well as the terminal extension of the base, is shown. The protective devices, however, are of slightlydifferent construction and are adapted to be inserted or Withdrawn from their holding-clips at the side of the switch or in a longitudinal direction instead of transverse to the face of the base. These protective devices 0 are provided with an extended end 0 of the insulating case or material of which the case is composed, which extended ends project outside of the raised portion of the base on which the switching parts and its cover 0 are mounted and through the said cap or cover. The holding-clips D and D are connected in circuit of the switch in the same manner as in Fig. '1; but they have slightly-flaring lower ends, as shown, to permit the insertion of the-protective devices in the direction specified. These clips are preferably spring metallic bands split to cause them to firmly grip the metallic contacts of the protective devices. Suitable grooves are provided in the porcelain for these devices, as in the former instance, and the arrangement is such that they may be withdrawn from the switch or replaced without removing the cap or cover 0, an opening or notch O in the edge of the cover being provided for the projecting end of the device 0. This results in a material saving of time and labor.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 a simple snap-switch with the inclosed protective devices is shown, the terminal extension of the base being omitted. In this form practically the same kind of a snap-switch is employed and the relative location of the switch and protective devices is the same as in Fig. l. The leading-out wires 76 7c are arranged in a manner similar to that heretofore described with reference to the other forms of the invention,

while the supply-wires H and H are lead in through channels and apertures in the base directly to the lower clips 2 2 of the protective devices 0, the upper clips 2 2' being connected with the spring-blades b b of the snap fuse or other protective device shown in this figure is the same as that described with reference to Fig. l; but it is obvious that the form employed in connection with the device shown in Fig. 4 may be used with this switch, as appears from Fig. 8, in which inclosing protective devices 0 are shown located and connected in the circuit in a manner similar to the corresponding devices of Fig. 6. Here the extended ends 0 O of the protective devices extend outside of the shell, cap, or cover of the switch and may be manipulated from the exterior without the removal of the cap or cover.

By connecting the connectors e and e and the leading-out wires k and 7tof Figs. 1 to 5 and the corresponding parts of Figs. 6 to 8 entirely in the bottom channels of the base, as shown, a very small amount of metal is exposed on the surface of the switch, and by connecting wires e and e to the upper protecting-clip d a minimum amount of bare metal occurs on the feeder or live side of the device. This latter connection, moreover,

in the form of Figs. 4 and 5 permits the disconnection of the feeder-mains as soon as the upper end of the protective device is withdrawn from the contact-clip D when it is attempted to remove the same, whereas if the connector 6 or e were attached to the lower clip it would be necessary to withdraw and insert the fuse through the live clip. In the latter form of the invention there is no tendency for dust or dirt to get into the device through the holes 0 in the cap, for the reason that the said holes are in the bottom of the case.

In the forms of Figs. 1 to 5 we prefer to make the two vertical sides of the base flat and the terminal extension thereof of the full width of the upper part, so that two or more of the devices may be placed side byside with their flat edges in contact, and when so located the surface of their support will be entirely covered with the porcelain. The feeders or supply-wires will then lie in the channels or grooves 61 and a and be supported and insulated from the support thereby.

It will be observed that all metallic and working parts of this device are inclosed and under cover except the lower main terminal clips, whereas in some prior cut-out devices all terminals are exposed. In Figs. 6 to 8 the supply-Wires may be brought in at the top and the leading-out wires taken out at the bottom, if such method is preferred.

By the above-described construction we have produced a device that is at once simple, durable, and efficient and one that is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and while we have described the same with particular reference to the details of construction we would have it understood that it is not to be limited thereto in all its phases, since various changes and substitutions may be made therein and still come within the scope and principle.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. The combination with a snap-switch having an insulating-base, of terminal contacts mounted upon said base, inclosed protective devices also mounted upon said base and adapted to be electrically connected with said contacts, and electric conductors suitably connecting said contacts with the terminals of the switch and located in slots or grooves in the back of the insulating-base, substantially as described.

2. The combination withasnap-switch having an insulating-base, of spring-clips mounted upon the face of said base, inclosed protective devices adapted to be placed in said spring-clips and thereby mechanically supported and electrically connected in the circuit of the switch, and electric conductors connecting said spring-clips with the terminals of the switch and mounted in suitable grooves in the back of the insulating-base substantially as described.

3. Thecombinationwithasnap-switchhaving an insulating-base, of U-shaped clips mounted upon the face of said base inclosed protective devices adapted to be placed in said U -shaped clips and thereby mechanically supported and electrically connected in the circuit of the switch, and electric conductors connecting said U-shaped clips with the terminals of the switch and mounted in suitable grooves in the back of the insulatingbase, substantially as described.

4. The combination with an insulatingbase, of a snap-switch centrally arranged thereon for opening the supply-circuit, inclosed protective devices mounted upon either side of said switch and in the opposite sides of the circuit terminal connections to receive said inclosed protective devices whereby they may be readily connected with and removed from said connections, and suitable conductors to connect the said protective devices and the switch-terminals together, substantially as described.

5. The combination with an insulatingbase, of a snap-switch centrally arranged on the outer face and having an operating-handle extending perpendicular to said face, inclosed protective devices mounted upon said base upon either side of said switch, springclips mounted upon said base to receive said inclosed protective devices whereby they may be readily connected with and removed from said connections, suitable conductors to connect the said spring-clips and the switch-terminals together, and a rem ovable cover adapted to inclose said switch and devices, and having a central aperture through which said handle projects whereby the switch may be conveniently operated without removing the cover, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a snap-switch, of an insulating-base therefor having grooves or channels therein, an inclosed protective IIO device mounted in each of said grooves or channels and connected with the terminals of the switch to protect the same, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a snap-switch, of an insulating-base therefor, said base having a terminal extension adapted to receive the supply-wires, terminal clips mounted on said extension and adapted to be electrically connected with the supply-wires," and inclosed protective devices mounted on the base of said switch and included in the circuit between said terminals and the switch-terminals, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a snapswitch, of an insulating-base therefor, said base having a terminal extension adapted to receive the supply-wires, terminal clips mounted on said extension and adapted to be electrically c011- nected with said supply-wires, inclosed protective devices mounted on the base of said switch and included in the circuit between said terminals and the switch-terminals, and

- a cover adapted to inclose the switch and the protective devices,substantially as described.

9. The combination with a snap-switch, of an insulating-base therefor having depressed portions, inclosed protective devices mounted in said depressed portions and connecting with the terminals of the switch to protect the same, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a snap-switch, of an insulating-base therefor having raised portions, and inclosed protective devices between said raised portions to limit the endwise movement thereof, and connecting with the terminals of the switch to protect the same, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a snap-switch, of an insulating-base there for having raised portions, inclosed protective devices mounted between said raised portions and connecting with the terminals of the switch to protect the same, and a cover adapted to inclose the switch and the devices and held in place by said raised portions, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a snap-switch, of an insulating-base therefor, said base having aterminal extension with grooves or channels in its outer face for the reception of the supply-wires, terminal clips mounted on said extension and adapted to be electrically connected with said supply-wires, and inclosed protective devices mounted on the base of said switch and included in the circuit between said terminals and the switch-terminals,'substantially as described.

13. The combination with a snap-switchhaving an insulating-base provided with grooves or channels at the sides of the operative parts of the switch, inclosed protective devices mounted in said grooves and connected with the terminals of the switch, an extension formed on the said insulating-base to carry the supply wires, conductors mounted in grooves or channels formed in said base and extending between the said supply-wires and protective devices,substantially as described.

14:. The combination with a snap-switch having an insulating-base, of inclosed protective devices mounted on said base and connected with the terminals of the switch, supply-wires carried by said base, connectors extending between said supply-wires and the protective devices so as to include them in the circuit of the switch, and leading-out wires adapted to be connected with the other terminals of the switch, said connectors and leading-out wires being inclosed within the material of the base, substantially as described.

15. The combination withasnap-switchhaving an insulating-base provided with a terminal extension adapted to carry the supplywires, said base having flat sides or edges whereby a plurality of said devices may be mounted side by side with their sides or edges closely fitting, substantially as described.

16. The combination withasnap-switchhaving an insulating-base, of circuit-terminals mounted directly and permanently upon said base and an inclosed protective device mounted in said terminals and adapted to be readily removed therefrom and inserted therein, and means for withdrawing said protective device from the said terminals out at the side of the base, substantially as described.

17. The combination withasnap-switchhaving an insulating-base, of a cap or cover for the switch, inclosed protective devices mounted on said base and within the cap or cover, and means for independently withdrawing said protective devices without removing the cover, substantially as described.

18. The combination with asnap-switch having an insulating-base provided with a terminal extension for the reception of the supply-wires, a cap or cover for the operative parts of said switch, inclosed protective devices mounted upon said base within the cover, and means for withdrawing or inserting said protective devices without removing the cover, substantially as described.

19. The combination with a base, of a snapswitch having suitable contacts mounted on the upper face of said base and having an op erating handle extending outwardly from said base, an inclosed protective device also carried on said base, suitable contacts for said protective device, and a removable cover for said base adapted to inclose the said switch and protective device, whereby the cover protects the device and its contacts and the device protects the switch, said cover having an aperture through which the handle projects, whereby the switch may be operated without removing the cover, substantially as described.

20. The combination with a terminal block adapted to carry the supply-wires and terminal clips, of a snap-switch on said base, a protective device also mounted upon said base and connected with the switch, and a cover to fit over the switch and protective deprotective device mounted in said terminals and adapted to be inserted in said terminals inserting said protective device from the terl minals out at the side of the base without removing the cover, substantially as described. 15 In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two witnesses.

vice, whereby the live contacts of both switch and device are inclosed within the cover, substantially as described.

21. The combination with a snap-switch hav- I ing an insulating-base, of a cap or cover for the switch and base, of circuit terminals mounted directly and permanently upon said base beneath the cap or cover, an inclosed HARRY HORNSBY' EDWARD W. ANGER, JR.

l I Witnesses:

' M. R. ROOHFORD,

l ROBERT LEWIS AMES.

and Withdrawn therefrom by a longitudinal movement, and means for Withdrawing and 

